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Pond's Clarant B3 for dry skin

Rated by Lovi · Unbiased, science-based skincare AI trained on real user outcomes

Pond's Clarant B3

Average

  • AverageDry Skin Fit
  • AverageEffectiveness
  • HighSafety

Works for dry skin; other serums fit it better.

This fit is calculated for the concerns frequently associated with dry skin: flakiness, tightness, dehydration, fine lines, and wrinkles. For scores and recommendations based on your full skin profile, including your 12D face scan results and any goals or preferences you have, please use the Lovi app.

Page built Nov 8, 2026How the Fit score works

Lovi Assistant explains

  • Offers moderate brightening for your dry skin due to niacinamide and sodium ascorbyl phosphate, which help even skin tone, though Myristic Acid and Palmitic Acid may strip natural oils, potentially worsening dryness.
  • Glycerin and niacinamide provide hydration and barrier support, offering general skincare benefits that are mostly supportive for your dry or flaky skin.
  • The product is safe for your dry skin, as it lacks harsh ingredients and contains soothing components like niacinamide, with no risk of irritation.

How to apply

  • Apply this serum PM, starting 3×/week and working up to daily use as your skin adjusts.
  • Place the serum after cleansing and toner, but right before your moisturizer.
  • Gently press 2-3 drops of the serum into your skin and let it absorb for a minute.
  • Apply the serum on slightly damp skin to help lock in extra moisture.
  • Avoid the eye area and do a patch test before your first use.

People Say

★4.5Overall rating based on 8.5k+ reviews

Based on a very large amount of data, this daily moisturizer is praised for its high moisturizing capabilities and affordability, with many users reporting gradual fading of dark spots and hyperpigmentation over several weeks. Some users with oily or acne-prone skin note it can feel greasy or lead to breakouts, and the moderate floral fragrance may be an issue for those with sensitive skin.

Highlights

  • Affordable and long-lasting Often Mentioned
    • “Very worth the price and useful.”
    • “Inexpensive yet so valuable.”
    • “Price point that makes luxury brightening serums look silly.”
    • “It is huge it's 7 oz. so this thing will last forever.”
  • Fades dark spots Often Mentioned
    • “I feel like my dark spots are starting to fade slightly.”
    • “With continued use, my skin looks brighter and more even, and dark spots appear less noticeable.”
    • “Meaningful spot fading closer to six or eight weeks.”
    • “Making my skin colour lighter and seemingly more evened out.”
  • Highly moisturizing Often Mentioned
    • “Provides long-lasting hydration throughout the day without causing dryness.”
    • “I don't get that sort of dry flaky winter skin.”
    • “Keeps the skin at the right level of moisture.”
    • “Functions as a competent daily moisturizer for normal to dry skin.”
  • Absorbs quickly Sometimes Noted
    • “It's so light and creamy.”
    • “Absorbs quickly without pilling and layers well under makeup.”
    • “Doesn't leave the skin feeling sticky or oily after application.”
    • “Really easy to put on.”
  • Slow to show results Sometimes Noted
    • “Cannot say I have seen improvement in dark spots yet, it is too early.”
    • “I think I need a few more weeks to see real results.”
    • “This is not an overnight miracle, and anyone expecting dramatic change in days will be disappointed.”
    • “I don't necessarily think this really rapidly speeds up that process.”
  • Strong floral scent Sometimes Noted
    • “Definitely does have a strong floral scent to it.”
    • “If you are sensitive to scents this might not be a good fit.”
    • “Pretty significant floral scent.”
    • “The formulation is old-school — parabens, fragrance.”
  • Can cause breakouts Rarely Noted
    • “Every new pimple I got, it left a spot.”
    • “My pimples started to leave spots all over my face.”
    • “Doesn't work as a primer... makes my face more oily.”
  • Can feel greasy Rarely Noted
    • “Makes my face look just a bit oily.”
    • “Makes my face more oily and makes my makeup last shorter.”
    • “I have oily skin... never used it in my face again.”

Sources: lovi.care, walmart.com, target.com, dermapproved.com, reviewstream.com, youtube.com, and more

Questions and answers

How well does Pond's Clarant B3 work for dry skin?

Pond's Clarant B3 works moderately well for dry skin, offering hydration and even skin tone from glycerin and niacinamide, though certain cleansing acids may strip natural oils and worsen dryness. A treatment for dry skin needs rich hydrating ingredients like ceramides, hyaluronic acid, propolis, or bifida ferment, along with soothing components that nourish the skin without any risk of irritation.

Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017Antioxidants, 2021

Which ingredients make this cream a good fit for dry skin?

Glycerin and niacinamide make this cream a good fit for dry skin by providing hydration and barrier support. To work best for dry skin, a product of this type needs rich hydrating and skin-repairing ingredients like ceramides, propolis, or peptides, alongside nourishing components that prevent any stripping of natural oils.

Antioxidants, 2021Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

What does Niacinamide do for dry skin?

Niacinamide helps dry skin by locking in moisture and strengthening the outer barrier to stop water from escaping. It may also calm redness and irritation while helping the skin feel softer and smoother with regular use.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2026Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004

What does Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate do for dry skin?

Sodium ascorbyl phosphate is a form of vitamin C that helps provide antioxidant protection and supports overall skin health. For dry skin to truly thrive with this ingredient, a product also needs deeply hydrating moisturizers that restore the skin barrier.

Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2004

Where does this cream go in a skincare routine for dry skin?

This treatment goes in the evening routine, after cleansing and before moisturizing, to keep your routine simple and safe around sun exposure. A product for this skin needs extra hydrating ingredients like ceramides or hyaluronic acid and rich oils to lock in moisture and protect dry skin from stripping.

Can I use this cream with retinol, and in what order?

You can use this cream in your nighttime routine after cleansing and before moisturizing, but apply retinol on a different night or with caution because certain cleansing ingredients here may strip natural oils and worsen dryness.

How often should I use this cream?

Use this treatment in the evening as part of your routine. This product works for your skin, but dry skin needs a product that provides richer hydration and avoids stripping natural oils.

Can this cream clog pores, cause breakouts or purging for dry skin?

This cream is unlikely to clog pores or cause breakouts for dry skin, as it lacks harsh components and has a low likelihood of causing breakouts according to reviews. However, dry skin often needs rich moisturizers with gentle hydrators and oils that do not strip natural moisture to stay soft and smooth.

Is this cream fragrance-free and alcohol-free?

Yes, it has no fragrance and no drying alcohol. Cetyl alcohol is a fatty alcohol, which soften the skin.

What the research says

  • Niacinamide significantly decreased hyperpigmentation and increased skin lightness compared with vehicle alone after 4 weeks of use in women by inhibiting melanosome transfer.

    The British Journal of Dermatology, 2002

  • Topical post-laser application of human adipocyte-derived mesenchymal stem cell media combined with niacinamide significantly improved wrinkle index, melanin index, patient satisfaction, and investigator esthetic improvement scores compared to vehicle cream in patients with aging skin.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2021

  • Topical treatment of nicotinamide, alone or in combination with other active ingredients, reduces the progression of skin aging and hyperpigmentation in clinical trials while being well tolerated.

    Antioxidants, 2021

  • A single application of a moisturizing fluid containing hyaluronic acid 1%, glycerin 5%, and Centella asiatica stem cells extract significantly increased skin hydration by 29% and reduced transepidermal water loss at 24 hours compared to baseline and an untreated control site in twenty healthy women.

    Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 2017

  • Topical nicotinamide prevented solar-simulated UV-induced immunosuppression in healthy volunteers, and men experienced immunosuppression at solar-simulated UV doses three times lower than those required for women.

    The Journal of Investigative Dermatology, 2008

  • Topical 5% niacinamide applied twice daily for 12 weeks reduced fine lines and wrinkles, hyperpigmented spots, red blotchiness, and skin sallowness, and improved skin elasticity compared to vehicle control in 50 female white subjects with facial photoaging.

    Dermatologic Surgery, 2005

  • Topical 2% niacinamide significantly decreased sebum excretion rate in Japanese individuals and casual sebum levels in Caucasian individuals compared to placebo or baseline.

    Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, 2006

  • Topical application of 5% vitamin C cream significantly improved global clinical scores, increased skin microrelief density, and induced elastic tissue repair in photoaged skin compared to excipient control in healthy female volunteers.

    Experimental Dermatology, 2003

  • Ascorbic acid 2-glucoside gel significantly reduced gingival melanin pigmentation after 4 weeks compared to placebo in 73 subjects with symmetric pigmentation.

    Journal of Periodontology, 2009

  • Topical application of VC-IP cream twice daily for 8 weeks reduces periorbital wrinkles in female subjects compared to a placebo cream.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2022

  • The emollient V0034CR significantly reduced TEWL compared to vehicle and vehicle plus glycerol, and significantly increased corneometry scores compared to vehicle and vehicle plus petrolatum in healthy volunteers with dry skin, demonstrating combined barrier function improvement from petrolatum and hydration improvement from glycerol.

    Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 2020

  • Ten days of treatment with a cream containing 20% glycerin significantly increased skin hydration measured by corneometer values in 17 healthy volunteers compared to a placebo cream, but showed no influence on transepidermal water loss or skin sensitivity to an irritating surfactant.

    International Journal of Cosmetic Science, 2001

  • Niacinamide/glycerin body moisturizers provided better rapid and prolonged improvement of cosmetic xerosis through functional improvement of stratum corneum barrier function compared to no treatment and conventional moisturizers in female subjects.

    Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, 2012

  • Sodium dodecyl sulfate treatment disrupts the ordered intercellular lipid lamellar structure in hairless mouse stratum corneum, and immersion in a ceramide 3, cholesterol, and stearic acid mixture successfully reorganizes this ordered lamellar structure.

    Biophysical Chemistry, 2001

  • Replacing 20% of the chemical UV filter octyl methoxycinnamate with urucum oil in solid lipid nanoparticles maintained the skin protection factor without inducing toxic responses or significant skin penetration in human volunteers.

    Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2018

  • Liposomal encapsulation of octyl methoxycinnamate increases its safety, skin affinity, and in vivo solar photoprotection factor while slowing its release and enhancing retention in the stratum corneum compared to a conventional formulation.

    International Journal of Nanomedicine, 2013

  • Encapsulation of ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and butyl methoxydibenzoylmethane in lipid microparticles significantly reduced their in vivo human skin penetration compared to nonencapsulated filters.

    Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 2011

Ingredients

Water, Myristic Acid, Palmitic Acid, Niacinamide, Stearic Acid, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Glycerin, Triethanolamine, Tapioca Starch, Cetyl Alcohol, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Phenoxyethanol, Carbomer, Acrylates Crosspolymer, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium Edta, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate

Behind this fit score

Lovi calculates every fit score from the full ingredient list with brand-independent rules our dermatologists and cosmetic chemists build and review, and personalizes every pick with AI trained on the real results of millions of users. Lovi trains its fit score models on a proprietary dataset built from more than 10,000 expert-labeled products and more than 100,000 simulated examples, following an internally consistent methodology presented at Cosmoprof, AMWC, and Skin of Color Update.

  • Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Nadia Kapleva, MS

    Co-founder, Medical Director

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetologist, aesthetic products developer

  • Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Alexey Shagraev, PhD

    Co-founder, CEO and CTO

    PhD in computer science, 3x US patent holder, ex-Google, ex-Yandex

  • Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Dr. Sofía Perea Pérez, MD, MSc

    Medical Board

    Aesthetic medicine practitioner, MSc in Longevity and Anti-Aging Medicine

  • Aishani Shah, MD

    Aishani Shah, MD

    Medical Board

    Specialist dermatologist, MBBS, MD, IFAAD

  • Asya Zubkova, MS

    Asya Zubkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, SCS, IFSCC member

  • Hanna Kurets, MD

    Hanna Kurets, MD

    Medical Board, Medical Advisor

    Dermatology MD

  • Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Elina Nazarenko, MD

    Medical Board

    Dermatology and diagnostic consultant

  • Victoria Derkova, MS

    Victoria Derkova, MS

    Medical Board

    Cosmetic chemist, cosmetic development technologist

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How does it fit your skin?

Scan your face, then any product: Lovi shows how well it fits you and what fits even better.

QR code: get the Lovi app
Download on theApp Store Get it onGoogle Play